Name: organelle transport in cultured drosophila cells: s2 cell line and primary neurons.
Uploaded: 2013-11-20T18:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Organelle Transport in Cultured Drosophila Cells: S2 Cell Line and Primary Neurons. at JoVE.com

We thank the members of the Gelfand lab who contributed to the development of these protocols. Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of General Medical Science of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01GM052111 to VIG and by Basque Government Department of Education, Universities and Research under award number BFI-2011-295 to UdC.

1. Drosophila S2 cells
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of ConA coated coverslips
	<ol>
		<li>Place coverslips in a ceramic rack and wash them by chromic acid immersion for 1 hr. [CAUTION: chromic acid is corrosive and can cause irritation of eyes, nose, throat, and skin].</li>
		<li>Rinse coverslips thoroughly with constantly running dH2O&#160;for 30 min until the acid is completely washed out.</li>
		<li>Let coverslips air dry and coat them with ConA (0.5 mg/ml solution in dH2O) f...

<ol>
	<li>Schneider, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+lines+derived+from+late+embryonic+stages+of+Drosophila+melanogaster.">Cell lines derived from late embryonic stages of Drosophila melanogaster.</a> J. Embryol. Exp. Morphol. 27, 353-365 (1972).</li><li>Rogers, S. L., Rogers, G. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Culture+of+Drosophila+S2+cells+and+their+use+for+RNAi-mediated+loss-of-function+studies+and+immunofluorescence.">Culture of Drosophila S2 cells and their use for RNAi-mediated loss-of-function studies and immunofluorescence.</a> 3, 606-611 (2008).</li><li>Buster, D. W., Nye, J., Klebba, J. E., Rogers, G. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preparation+of+Drosophila+S2+cells+for+light+microscopy.">Preparation of Drosophila S2 cells for light microscopy.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (40), e1982 (2010).</li><li>Ling, S. C., Fahrner, P. S., Greenough, W. T., Gelfand, V. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transport+of+Drosophila+fragile+X+mental+retardation+protein-containing+ribonucleoprotein+granules+by+kinesin-1+and+cytoplasmic+dynein.">Transport of Drosophila fragile X mental retardation protein-containing ribonucleoprotein granules by kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101, 17428-17433 (2004).</li><li>Kural, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinesin+and+dynein+move+a+peroxisome+in+vivo:+a+tug-of-war+or+coordinated+movement.">Kinesin and dynein move a peroxisome in vivo: a tug-of-war or coordinated movement.</a> Science. 308, 1469-1472 (2005).</li><li>Kim, H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microtubule+binding+by+dynactin+is+required+for+microtubule+organization+but+not+cargo+transport.">Microtubule binding by dynactin is required for microtubule organization but not cargo transport.</a> J. Cell. Biol. 176, 641-651 (2007).</li><li>Ally, S., Larson, A. G., Barlan, K., Rice, S. E., Gelfand, V. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Opposite-polarity+motors+activate+one+another+to+trigger+cargo+transport+in+live+cells.">Opposite-polarity motors activate one another to trigger cargo transport in live cells.</a> J. Cell. Biol. 187, 1071-1082 (2009).</li><li>Bensenor, L. B., Barlan, K., Rice, S. E., Fehon, R. G., Gelfand, V. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Microtubule-mediated+transport+of+the+tumor-suppressor+protein+Merlin+and+its+mutants.">Microtubule-mediated transport of the tumor-suppressor protein Merlin and its mutants.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 107, 7311-7316 (2010).</li><li>Jolly, A. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinesin-1+heavy+chain+mediates+microtubule+sliding+to+drive+changes+in+cell+shape.">Kinesin-1 heavy chain mediates microtubule sliding to drive changes in cell shape.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 107, 12151-12156 (2010).</li><li>Barlan, K., Lu, W., Gelfand, V. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+microtubule-binding+protein+ensconsin+is+an+essential+cofactor+of+Kinesin-1.">The microtubule-binding protein ensconsin is an essential cofactor of Kinesin-1.</a> Curr. Biol. 23, 317-322 (2013).</li><li>Lu, W., Fox, P., Lakonishok, M., Davidson, M. W., Gelfand, V. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Initial+Neurite+Outgrowth+in+Drosophila+Neurons+Is+Driven+by+Kinesin-Powered+Microtubule+Sliding.">Initial Neurite Outgrowth in Drosophila Neurons Is Driven by Kinesin-Powered Microtubule Sliding.</a> Curr. Biol. 23, 1018-1023 (2013).</li><li>Pathak, D., Sepp, K. J., Hollenbeck, P. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evidence+that+myosin+activity+opposes+microtubule-based+axonal+transport+of+mitochondria.">Evidence that myosin activity opposes microtubule-based axonal transport of mitochondria.</a> J. Neurosci. 30, 8984-8992 (2010).</li><li>Clark, I. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Drosophila+pink1+is+required+for+mitochondrial+function+and+interacts+genetically+with+parkin.">Drosophila pink1 is required for mitochondrial function and interacts genetically with parkin.</a> Nature. 441, 1162-1166 (2006).</li><li>Gunawardena, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Disruption+of+axonal+transport+by+loss+of+huntingtin+or+expression+of+pathogenic+polyQ+proteins+in+Drosophila.">Disruption of axonal transport by loss of huntingtin or expression of pathogenic polyQ proteins in Drosophila.</a> Neuron. 40, 25-40 (2003).</li><li>Koo, E. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Precursor+of+amyloid+protein+in+Alzheimer+disease+undergoes+fast+anterograde+axonal+transport.">Precursor of amyloid protein in Alzheimer disease undergoes fast anterograde axonal transport.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 1561-1565 (1990).</li><li>Stokin, G. B., Goldstein, L. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Axonal+transport+and+Alzheimer's+disease.">Axonal transport and Alzheimer's disease.</a> Annu. Rev. Biochem. 75, 607-627 (2006).</li><li>Bilsland, L. G., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Deficits+in+axonal+transport+precede+ALS+symptoms+in+vivo.">Deficits in axonal transport precede ALS symptoms in vivo.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 107, 20523-20528 (2010).</li><li>Lloyd, T. E., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+p150(Glued)+CAP-Gly+domain+regulates+initiation+of+retrograde+transport+at+synaptic+termini.">The p150(Glued) CAP-Gly domain regulates initiation of retrograde transport at synaptic termini.</a> Neuron. 74, 344-360 (2012).</li><li>Moughamian, A. J., Holzbaur, E. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Dynactin+is+required+for+transport+initiation+from+the+distal+axon.">Dynactin is required for transport initiation from the distal axon.</a> Neuron. 74, 331-343 (2012).</li><li>Lorenzo, D. N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Spectrin+mutations+that+cause+spinocerebellar+ataxia+type+5+impair+axonal+transport+and+induce+neurodegeneration+in+Drosophila.">Spectrin mutations that cause spinocerebellar ataxia type 5 impair axonal transport and induce neurodegeneration in Drosophila.</a> J. Cell. Biol. 189, 143-158 (2010).</li><li>Robinow, S., White, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+locus+elav+of+Drosophila+melanogaster+is+expressed+in+neurons+at+all+developmental+stages.">The locus elav of Drosophila melanogaster is expressed in neurons at all developmental stages.</a> Dev. Biol. 126, 294-303 (1988).</li><li>Pilling, A. D., Horiuchi, D., Lively, C. M., Saxton, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Kinesin-1+and+Dynein+are+the+primary+motors+for+fast+transport+of+mitochondria+in+Drosophila+motor+axons.">Kinesin-1 and Dynein are the primary motors for fast transport of mitochondria in Drosophila motor axons.</a> Mol. Biol. Cell. 17, 2057-2068 (2006).</li><li>Furst, A., Mahowald, A. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Differentiation+of+primary+embryonic+neuroblasts+in+purified+neural+cell+cultures+from+Drosophila.">Differentiation of primary embryonic neuroblasts in purified neural cell cultures from Drosophila.</a> Dev. Biol. 109, 184-192 (1985).</li><li>Salvaterra, P. M., Bournias-Vardiabasis, N., Nair, T., Hou, G., Lieu, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=In+vitro+neuronal+differentiation+of+Drosophila+embryo+cells.">In vitro neuronal differentiation of Drosophila embryo cells.</a> J. Neurosci. 7, 10-22 (1987).</li><li>Wiemer, E. A., Wenzel, T., Deerinck, T. J., Ellisman, M. H., Subramani, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Visualization+of+the+peroxisomal+compartment+in+living+mammalian+cells:+dynamic+behavior+and+association+with+microtubules.">Visualization of the peroxisomal compartment in living mammalian cells: dynamic behavior and association with microtubules.</a> J. Cell. Biol. 136, 71-80 (1997).</li><li>Rizzuto, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+gene+specifying+subunit+VIII+of+human+cytochrome+c+oxidase+is+localized+to+chromosome+11+and+is+expressed+in+both+muscle+and+non-muscle+tissues.">A gene specifying subunit VIII of human cytochrome c oxidase is localized to chromosome 11 and is expressed in both muscle and non-muscle tissues.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 264, 10595-10600 (1989).</li><li>Poot, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Analysis+of+mitochondrial+morphology+and+function+with+novel+fixable+fluorescent+stains.">Analysis of mitochondrial morphology and function with novel fixable fluorescent stains.</a> J. Histochem. Cytochem. 44, 1363-1372 (1996).</li><li>Haller, T., Dietl, P., Deetjen, P., Volkl, H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+lysosomal+compartment+as+intracellular+calcium+store+in+MDCK+cells:+a+possible+involvement+in+InsP3-mediated+Ca2++release.">The lysosomal compartment as intracellular calcium store in MDCK cells: a possible involvement in InsP3-mediated Ca2+ release.</a> Cell Calcium. 19, 157-165 (1996).</li></ol>

Here we present detailed protocols for studying microtubule-dependent cargo transport in Drosophila S2 cells and primary neuron culture. Both S2 processes and neurites are structures filled by bundled microtubules arrays that serve as tracks for organelle transport.
Two strategies are typically used to label organelles: transfection of vectors encoding a fluorescent protein with an organelle-targeting sequence or staining with fluorescent dyes added directly to cultures. Common exampl...

Drosophila S2 cells have gained increasing popularity for studying many cellular processes. These cells were originally obtained from trypsinized late stage embryos of OregonR Drosophila melanogaster and maintain macrophage-like features1. Drosophila S2 cells offer many advantages over other cell lines. They are cultured at 25 &#176;C without CO2, and can be imaged for many hours at room temperature without the need of heating or gas exchange. More importantly, Drosophila S2 cells are very sensitive to RNAi treatment allowing high efficiency knockdown of proteins of interest. S2 cells are highly transfectable and stable cell lines can be selected in less than four weeks to allow stable ectopic expression of proteins of interest. S2 cells normally grow either loosely attached but not spread on a flask or in suspension. They can be induced to spread on coverslips precoated with a plant lectin concanavalin A (ConA). The periphery of the spread cells is especially thin and therefore is ideal for live cell microscopy. Detailed protocols for S2 cells culture, RNAi treatment, live light imaging and immunostaining can be found in the literature2,3. Our lab has adopted S2 cells as a model system to study microtubule-based cargo transport. Drosophila S2 cells treated with any drug that depolymerizes or severs F-actin, such as cytochalasin D (CytoD), grow long processes filled with uniformly polarized microtubules4-10, which makes it an ideal system to study cargo movement along microtubule arrays. Different parameters of transport in these processes (i.e. trajectories lengths, velocities, directionality etc.) can be easily measured using automated particle-tracking software, DiaTrack (Semasopht: http://www.microscopy.info/Organization/Details/4423; Dr. Pascal Vallotton: http://www.csiro.au/en/Organisation-Structure/Divisions/Mathematics-Informatics-and-Statistics/PascalVallotton.aspx#a4). These properties make S2 cells an appealing system for studying cargo transport along microtubules in tissue culture cells.
Pilot experiments in S2 cells can be extended to a physiologically important model of cargo transport studies in Drosophila primary neurons. Similar to S2 cells, neurons cultured from dissociated embryos are permeable to small molecules such as dyes and inhibitors, and high-resolution live imaging of organelle transport can be performed in neurons at room temperature. Using Drosophila with different genetic backgrounds, we can examine gene function in primary neurons by knockout (genetic loss-of-function mutations), knockdown (dsRNA injection or expression) or ectopic expression (transgenic flies). Specifically, fragmentation of actin filaments using CytoD treatment does not prevent neurite outgrowth; instead they grow faster, and thus we can study microtubule-dependent organelle transport in CytoD-treated neurons without the influence of actin filaments11. Therefore, primary neuronal cultures combine the advantages of tissue culture cells and fly genetics, which makes it a great system to study cargo transport in a physiological relevant system10,12. Since several familial neurodegenerative diseases could be caused by or associated with cargo transport defects (e.g.&#160;Parkinson&#39;s disease13, Huntington&#39;s disease14, Alzheimer&#39;s Disease15,16, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/ALS17, HMN7B and Perry syndrome18,19, and Spinocerebellar ataxia type 5/SCA520), primary neuronal cultures can be useful in analysis of the effects of specific mutations causing these diseases on microtubule-dependent transport.
Finally, important properties of microtubule-dependent transport are well conserved between mammals and flies, but Drosophila genetic and cell culture is less expensive and time-consuming, justifying the use of cultured Drosophila cells for studying essential aspects of organelle transport in normal and pathological conditions.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="435">
	<colgroup>
		<col />
		<col />
		<col />
	</colgroup>
	<tbody>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;width:124px;">Powder Insect cell medium (Schneider&#8217;s)</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Sigma&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">S9895</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">Insect &#8211;Xpress medium</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Fisher</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">BW12730Q</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:124px;">Insulin</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">I6634</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;width:124px;">Penicillin</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">P93000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="61">
			<td height="61" style="height:61px;width:124px;">Streptomycin</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Research Products International</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">S62000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">Tetracycline hydrochloride</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">T7660-5G</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">Fetal bovine serum</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Atlanta Biologicals</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">S11150</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:124px;">Concanavalin A</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Sigma</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">C2010</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:124px;">Cytochalasin D</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">IC15077105</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">LysoTracker Red DND-99</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Molecular Probes</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">L7528</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">100 &#181;m Cell strainer</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">22363549</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">25 mm Circle cover glass</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">48380 080</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="41">
			<td height="41" style="height:41px;width:124px;">Drosophila Vials</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">VWR</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">89092-730</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="81">
			<td height="81" style="height:81px;width:124px;">Disposable pellet pestles with matching microtubes</td>
			<td style="width:133px;">Kimble Chase</td>
			<td style="width:179px;">749520-0000</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

organelle transport in cultured drosophila cells: s2 cell line and primary neurons.

Drosophila S2 cells plated on a coverslip in the presence of any actin-depolymerizing drug form long unbranched processes filled with uniformly polarized microtubules. Organelles move along these processes by microtubule motors. Easy maintenance, high sensitivity to RNAi-mediated protein knock-down and efficient procedure for creating stable cell lines make Drosophila S2 cells an ideal model system to study cargo transport by live imaging. The results obtained with S2 cells can be further applied to a more physiologically relevant system: axonal transport in primary neurons cultured from dissociated Drosophila embryos. Cultured neurons grow long neurites filled with bundled microtubules, very similar to S2 processes. Like in S2 cells, organelles in cultured neurons can be visualized by either organelle-specific fluorescent dyes or by using fluorescent organelle markers encoded by DNA injected into early embryos or expressed in transgenic flies. Therefore, organelle transport can be easily recorded in neurons cultured on glass coverslips using living imaging. Here we describe procedures for culturing and visualizing cargo transport in Drosophila S2 cells and primary neurons. We believe that these protocols make both systems accessible for labs studying cargo transport.

Drosophila S2 cells attached on the ConA-coated coverslip spread into a flat round &#8220;pancake&#8221; shape (Figures 1A and 1C). However, when S2 cells plated on coverslips in the presence of CytoD and allowed to spread for 2-3 hr, they form long thin processes filled by parallel microtubules (Figures 1B and 1D). These microtubules have uniform polarity with plus-ends out7. Time-lapse fluorescence imaging of Drosophila S2 ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Organelle Transport in Cultured Drosophila Cells: S2 Cell Line and Primary Neurons. at JoVE.com

Organelle Transport in Cultured Drosophila Cells: S2 Cell Line and Primary Neurons.

Drosophila S2 cells and cultured neurons are great systems for imaging of motor-driven organelle transport in vivo. Here we describe detailed protocols for culturing both cell types, their imaging and analysis of transport.

Organelle Transport in Cultured Drosophila Cells: S2 Cell Line and Primary Neurons.

Drosophila S2 cells plated on a coverslip in the presence of any actin-depolymerizing drug form long unbranched processes filled with uniformly polarized ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Primary Neuronal Cultures from the Brains of Late Stage Drosophila Pupae

In this video, we demonstrate the preparation of primary neuronal cultures from the brains of late stage Drosophila pupae. The procedure begins with the ...

Live Imaging of Dense-core Vesicles in Primary Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Observing and characterizing dynamic cellular processes can yield important information about cellular activity that cannot be gained from static images.  ...

Preparation of Drosophila S2 cells for Light Microscopy

Preparation of Drosophila S2 cells for Light Microscopy

The ideal experimental system would be cheap and easy to maintain, amenable to a variety of techniques, and would be supported by an extensive literature ...

Adenovirus-mediated Genetic Removal of Signaling Molecules in Cultured Primary Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

The ability to genetically remove specific components of various cell signalling cascades has been an integral tool in modern signal transduction ...

Primary Cell Cultures from Drosophila Gastrula Embryos

Primary Cell Cultures from Drosophila Gastrula Embryos

Here we describe a method for preparing and culturing primary cells dissociated from Drosophila gastrula embryos.   In brief, a large amount of staged ...

Isolation and Primary Culture of Rat Hepatic Cells

Primary hepatocyte culture is a valuable tool that has been extensively used in basic research of liver function, disease, pathophysiology, pharmacology ...

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

Live Imaging of Apoptotic Cell Clearance during Drosophila Embryogenesis

The  proper elimination of unwanted or aberrant cells through apoptosis and  subsequent phagocytosis (apoptotic cell clearance) is crucial for normal  ...

Generating a &#34;Humanized&#34; Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5

Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5

Kinetochores are large protein-based structures that assemble on centromeres during cell division and link chromosomes to spindle microtubules. Proper ...

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes

Glucose Uptake Measurement and Response to Insulin Stimulation in In Vitro Cultured Human Primary Myotubes

Skeletal muscle is the largest glucose deposit in mammals and largely contributes to glucose homeostasis. Assessment of insulin sensitivity of muscle ...

Co-immunoprecipitation Assay Using Endogenous Nuclear Proteins from Cells Cultured Under Hypoxic Conditions

Low oxygen levels (hypoxia) trigger a variety of adaptive responses with the Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) complex acting as a master regulator. ...